UnitedHealthcare and Arizona Physicians IPA Bring to Arizona the "House Call for the 21st Century"
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-10-20 15:17:11 | Word Count: 515
UnitedHealthcare and Arizona Physicians IPA, a unit of AmeriChoice, introduced
the "house call for the 21st century" to Arizona on Wednesday, featuring a
demonstration of advanced video technology that connects patients and
physicians. Called Connected Care, it is part of UnitedHealthcare`s initiative
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to build a national telehealth network.
An 18-wheel mobile clinic is touring the nation and stopped in Phoenix today to
showcase the technology and connectivity available through Connected Care. In
addition, UnitedHealthcare and AmeriChoice are sponsoring several free public
health screenings at local community centers as part of the event.
The Connected Care mobile clinic features advanced audio and video technologies
and health resources to create for patients an experience remarkably similar to
an in-person visit with a doctor. The technology in the mobile unit illustrates
what will soon be rolled out in the workplace, retail and rural locations and,
eventually, the home.
"Connected Care is our latest effort to improve and expand access to quality
care throughout Arizona and the nation," said Benton Davis, CEO of
UnitedHealthcare of Arizona. "The combination of this advanced technology and
our national physician and hospital network will help reduce geographic barriers
to care and make it easier for people to see a doctor."
UnitedHealthcare`s mobile clinic was at the Arizona State Capitol today, where
local officials toured the Connected Care mobile unit and watched a live
demonstration of the technology. Separately, the mobile unit will serve as a
backdrop for free health screenings being held this week at community centers in
the Phoenix area. The screenings are open to the public and are slated for the
South Mountain Community Center today from 8 to 11 a.m. and the Chandler
Christian Community Center on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
UnitedHealthcare and AmeriChoice, both UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) companies,
collectively serve more than 1 million people in Arizona. Nationwide,
UnitedHealth Group`s diverse health businesses serve more than 70 million
Americans. The company`s national reach and deep experience in merging
technology with clinical expertise gives Connected Care the broad scale that
other telehealth programs have not achieved.
"For many people in rural areas, seeing a physician sometimes means traveling
long distances, which is especially challenging for seniors and the critically
ill," said Dr. Rodney Armstead, senior vice president, West Region Plan
Operations for AmeriChoice. "We believe Connected Care will enhance our nation`s
rural health infrastructure and unlock new possibilities for how physicians and
medical staff interact with patients."
